A/N: *ahem* I'd like to say I'm sorry for this taking too long. I've been having anxiety issues and so I had some trouble writing. And between me and my partnet writing back and forth to each other, it was hard to finish this.

I LIED THERE IS AN EPILOGUE SO ONE MORE CHAPTER. also sequel but shhh that's a secret

"Tony..." Steve swallowed hard, but his heart was bursting in joy. Tony remembered, he remembered! He's…! "Are you okay?"

"I..." he looked down at his chest, then looked at his hands and back at Steve. "am okay. Are you okay? Because my mind is a complete blur of my memory trip, but I remember pissing you off a good amount. And you-" he poked his head around Steve to Clint, who was watching anxiously, "are such a softie."

"Everything you think you experienced is a figment of your imagination." Clint growled, but continued, "glad to have you back. You should know that you didn't cease to be an asshole."

"It's in my genetic code. Natasha," he smirked at her, to which she narrowed her eyes at him. "thanks."

Natasha grunted.

"Brucie!" Tony sighed dramatically. "You were great as always."

Tony kept a firm hand on Steve's shoulder as Bruce and Tony discussed the logistics of getting his memory back, a cluster of insensible phrases. Natasha and Clint excused themselves, and Steve saw a glint in Clint's eye that hadn't been there before. Either Clint was thrilled about Tony, or they had something planned. Bruce then left too, leaving Steve and Tony alone, silent. It wasn't a bad silence, but neither of them knew what to say to each other.

Tony cleared his throat. "What happened? We were at the restaurant, and then leaving, and then I'm waking up and I've got my memory back. You know, in the way that I actually feel them to be real and not some freaky ass dream."

"I.. don't really know. You just sort of collapsed and...now you're awake and you remember." Steve trailed off with a small shake of the head. It was like what the doctors told him earlier about the seizure and brain swelling had just disappeared from his mind- he was comprehending that Tony remembered everything.

"Yeah.. oh well," Tony finally shrugged before he shifted in the hospital bed, making a face. Ugh, he hated hospitals. He was ready to get the hell out of here. "How long are they keeping me?"

"A day or two, just to be sure." Steve said. Yeah, he didn't like that either, but... it was okay with him because Tony was okay. That's all that mattered to him. "Hey, it'll be fine. Quit scowling."

"I'll stop scowling when I get out of here." Tony retorted, and then paused. "Hold up. What's the date?"

"It's Christmas, Tony." Steve said slowly, examining Tony's reaction. Tony looked surprised.

"It's only been that long? I thought it was longer. It felt longer." he shrugged. "So much for buying you Christmas presents. I don't recall my amnesia self going to the store to do some Christmas shopping."

"You being alright is enough." Steve said firmly, to which Tony snorted.

"You're such a sap, Steve. I love it. Hey, if I'm stuck here, then c'mere." he patted the bed.

Tony tried every time. Every single hospital visit. "Tony..."

"C'mon! I haven't snuggled with you in forever, and don't you miss snuggling with me?" Tony wiggled his eyebrows. Steve gave in just for the hell of it. Tony was asking for physical affection, and he hadn't for weeks. Steve was still trying to grasp the concept that Tony was back, and he knew Steve. Clearly he also knew that Steve always eventually gives up when it comes to Tony. He threw up his hands in the air and slipped carefully onto the bed next to Tony.

Tony scooted closer to Steve and rested his head on Steve's chest. "Ugh. Why the fuck didn't you just make me cuddle with you? I wouldn't have minded."

"I think you would have." Steve admonished, running his fingers through Tony's ebony hair. "We'll have to make up for time lost."

"That sounds incredibly sexy." the billionaire purred and then burst out laughing. "You're asking for it. That's weird. Usually its me."

Steve chuckled with him. "I know."

"I'm pretty sure I have the ability to lock the door over there and keep everyone out for an hour-"

"No, Tony," Steve laughed. "You have to wait."

"Evil," he whined, lifting his head off Steve's chest and getting into his face. "Why did you get evil?"

Steve pushed Tony's head closer and kissed his forehead. "Just for the hell of it. You got away with a lot, you know."

At that, Bruce walked in with a miniature Christmas tree. "Hey, guys," he muttered, face bright red. "I see you haven't wasted time."

"Do you see our clothes off? We did waste time." Tony sighed. "What's with the tree?...shit, are you actually bringing Christmas here? Absolutely not."

Steve, albeit surprised at this, started to explain to Tony they might as well. But all arguments were lost when Natasha walked in wearing a Santa hat and a bag of candy. She tossed a piece to Tony. "Be a good boy."

"I'm always a good boy." Tony scoffed, and Steve groaned.

"Ho, ho, ho, motherfuckers!" Clint strolled into the room wearing an ugly sweater (god, why does that thing exist?) and Santa hat with a bag slung over his shoulder. "You insisted to go ahead and get admitted to the hospital last night, so we're improvising."

Tony eyed Clint for a moment, seeming to look at his horrendous sweater with an expression of distaste, before he sighed. "Alright, fine. I want my presents," he told them before he was opening the piece of candy that Natasha tossed him. Steve gently nudged him, and the brunette shrugged. "What? I like presents, and I might as well open them because there's nothing better to do while stuck in a hospital bed,"he told them, before he lowered his voice and looked to Steve. "Though, like I said, I can show you a few things if you'd just-"

Steve blushed but rolled his eyes. "Tony."

"I see you're still demanding as ever," Bruce commented with a fond smile, before glancing to the door when Thor suddenly walked inside.

"Man of Iron!" he boomed, causing nurse outside the room to startle and nearly drop her armful of papers. "It is good to see you are well!"

Tony couldn't help but laugh. "Thanks, big guy," he nodded, before raising an eyebrow. "You know, Santa hats suit you."

Thor reached up to briefly touch the red hat on his head. "Yes, Clint assured me it would be a good addition to my wardrobe for the holiday." he then looked over at the archer, who still had a bag slung over his shoulder, and smiled. "Now I do believe our friend has asked about presents?" he inquired, sounding eager.

"Yeah, yeah," Clint said before he was digging into the bag, pulling out the first thing he could find. "Oh, hey. For you, Tony."

Tony gladly accepted the small box and watched in the corner of his eye Thor forcefully take the bag away from Clint despite the archer's protests that he was Santa Claus. Natasha snorted in amusement and sat down in a chair, crossing her legs as Bruce looked on in amusement.

"You should open that before Thor has a fit." Steve remarked, cutting Tony out of his daze.

"What? Oh, yeah." He blinked and started tearing off the Christmas wrapping paper off the box, and opened it up. And had to slap a hand to his mouth to stifle a laugh. "Are you fucking with me, Clint?"

In the box was a makeshift nest of twigs, balled up paper, and red fabric, and a tiny clay red and gold bird.

"I made that, you're welcome." Clint scoffed. "There's really not a lot to get a guy who has fucking everything and I have to be honest with you, I procrastinated."

"No, no, it's...great," he held it up, grinning, and Steve took it from him and inspected it.

"It's actually pretty good." Steve smiled, gently placing it back in the box. "I'm sure Tony appreciates it."

"Point taken, Steve. Thanks, Clint." Tony nodded at him, and Clint fist pumped the air. "Let's move on to next lucky sucker, shall we?"

In the next hour, presents were tossed back and forth. Steve got his own nest with a patriotic-looking bird, Captain America socks (Natasha was a true ironic, it turns out), and charcoal pencils of different shading. Clint received a bow necklace (again, the irony and Natasha) and regular white socks that he always lost anyway. Natasha got yet another knife that brought an ever present smile to her face, and Bruce got Hulk boxers (Clint's doing, this time).

There was more, Tony knew, but after a bit...Steve was snuggled up against him, warm and familiar and there, it was enough for Tony to start to fade from giving snarky replies to being half asleep and head lolling on Steve's shoulder. He was a genius, after all, so yes, he could tell the others were pretending not to notice. While Thor and Clint tried to convince an appalled Bruce to try on his Hulk boxers and Natasha slipped out, saying something about getting coffee, Tony mumbled, "Hey, Steve?"

"Yes, Tony?"

"You should ask J'vis about m' Christmas presents."

"What do you mean? You just-" Steve thought about it, "Wait. You actually did buy Christmas presents before the accident?"

"No, after...few days before the date thingy, I think?" Tony wrinkled his nose and stared up at Steve blearily. "Don't remember what they are or where, but I got somethin'."

"Okay. I should go and take a shower back at the Tower anyway, will you be okay if I leave for a bit while you're sleeping?"

"Mm-hmm. I got the good drugs." Tony yawned, and then waved a hand. "Personal guardian angels, too."

Steve left soon to go clean up at the tower, showering and changing clothes. He packed up a few things that he thought Tony might like, since he wasn't entirely sure how long the doctors would want to keep him under observation, before he remembered what he had said about the presents. Jarvis informed him where they were located, and he set off to find them so he could bring them to the team. However, he got interrupted by a call from Clint.

"Mister Grumpypants wants you to bring him coffee when you come back. The Italian roast he likes.. or something like that., I dunno, you'll figure it out.

Smiling fondly, Steve shook his head. "Tell Tony he'll just have to wait on the coffee.. and tell him to go back to sleep. He needs to rest." He hung up a moment later, still smiling as he thought about Tony... and, wow, was this real life? Had Tony really remembered everything? It was like a dream come true and he just couldn't keep himself from smiling. Tony would laugh at him for saying this, but it was a Christmas miracle

Now that he thinks it, it does sound pretty cliché.

Steve went to the gallery where apparently Tony had stuffed presents right before their date, and what do you know, badly wrapped presents awaited him. Steve grinned.

His phone rang, and Steve answered without looking at the caller ID, "Steve Rogers."

"Steve! It's Pepper."

"Hi, Pepper." Steve said warmly. "Merry Christmas."

"You, too, Steve. Can you send Tony down? I have a delivery."

Steve's smile wavered just a bit. "I'm sorry, Pep. Tony's not here. He's in the hospital-"

"What?!" Pepper shrieked and Steve had to move the phone from his ear a little bit. "What happened?"

"We went out on a date last night, and he had a seizure as we left. He's fine, don't worry. In fact, some good came out of it." Steve tried to assure her. "Tony got his memory back."

There was a long silence before Pepper gave an exasperated little laugh and Steve could see her, in his mind, bracing herself against the wall and rest her forehead. "Only Tony."

"Of course." Steve agreed. "I can send him the delivery if you want."

Pepper paused. "I guess there's not much of an option. It can't really, you know, wait."

Steve raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Steve was going to talk to Tony big time. He couldn't believe had said that it was Tony's big present to all the Avengers, but he also said that Thor would like it specifically.

That's when Steve recalled Thor saying they should adopt a kitten.

Which led to Pepper handing him the cardboard box covered in a blanket, apologizing profusely that she had get back to her family and Rhodey, and then Steve realizing that Pepper was right, it really couldn't wait.

When Steve finally pulled the blanket back to peer into the box, he was met with a small bundle of fur staring up at him with big brown eyes. Oh, wow. This little cat was far more... adorable than he'd expected. "Well, hello there, little thing. Aren't you cute?" he smiled, and the kitten gave a small meow in response. He reached in the pet it, and the fuzzy animal rubbed against his hand appreciatively, purring loudly. "Well, you are going to be a favorite, that's for sure." He chuckled, but he was definitely going to talk to Tony about this. .

He then gathered everything else and headed back to the hospital.

Thor, of course, was happiest about the kitten. He whooped with joy, thanking Tony profusely, before trying to explain to Natasha that having a cat in the tower would be enjoyable. She didn't seem to agree, and Clint warned her that she'd better not use the kitten as target practice for throwing her knives.

Steve rolled his eyes as he listened to the conversation, before carefully nudging slightly. "You just had to, didn't you?"

Smirking, Tony looked at Steve. "That's not fair. My amnesia self did it for me. But yeah, in a way I totally did." He said simply. "Admit it, you love it."

As the team each passed around the kitten to greet their new member, Bruce brought pizza and despite Steve 's warnings to Tony to take it slow, the billionaire scarfed two slices down like he hadn't eaten in days. Natasha, now holding the kitten in a strangely protective cuddle, shook her head and and gently thumped Tony's head.

"Save some for me."

Through his last mouthful, Tony quipped, "You're on kitty duty."

"Friend Stark, what are the rest of the presents for?" Thor boomed happily, reaching over and rubbing his index finger against the kitten's cheek, who purred happily from the attention.

"I got some stuff for you guys so find your gift and open it," Tony waved a hand as he reached over, stealing Steve's last piece of pizza crust from his plate.

Eyeing the presents, Natasha snorted as she saw how they were packaged. "I can see you wrapped these yourself, Stark."

"Shut up," Tony replied immediately, laughing as Steve chuckled and rolled his eyes at the comment. "Hey, I tried. Doesn't that count for something?"

"I suppose," the super soldier replied, swatting Tony's hand away when he tried to get another piece of pizza. "Hey. Take it slow." He told him, before hearing a yelp from Clint as the kitten launched itself at the archer.

Meowing, the cat perched itself on Clint's shoulder, nuzzling the side of his head with a purr. "Well look at that. He likes me." He grinned.

"If he likes you, then you're teaching him to use the litter box." Tony smirked, to which Clint scoffed and cuddled the kitten closer.

"I'll just make Natasha do it," he muttered.

"No, you won't." Natasha growled.

"Before this becomes a bloodbath," Bruce interjected, an amused smile playing at his lips, "we should pick a name for him."

"And we know its a...him, right?" Clint lifted the kitten and peeked. "Okay, we're good. It's a him."

Tony rubbed his face with his hand. "It's on the adoption papers, Clint. I could have told you."

Clint scowled and then shrugged. "Anyway, we should name him Barry."

"Why in the hell would we name him Barry?" Tony asked incredulously.

"We should name him of Asgard!" Thor exclaimed. Tony groaned, protesting that he'd never be able to pronounce it. Whether verbally or silently, the others agreed.

"For fucks sakes-"

"Don't swear around him," Clint hissed, and was met with a few odd stares.

"Give him here, Barton." Tony rolled his eyes, and Clint hesitantly passed off the kitten in question. The kitten walked across Tony's lap and then sat, batting at Tony's shirt. "Let's see, a little grayish color, brown eyes, calm for a kitten...we should name him Phil."

There was a silence. "As in...Phil Coulson Phil?" Steve asked.

Tony nodded, scratching at the kitten's chin. "Good as any."

"I like it," Clint declared. "His name is Phil now."

No one objected, so Tony lifted Phil and held him high. "Welcome to the Avengers, Phil."

After that, Thor demanded to hold the kitten, and he let Phil perch on his shoulder as the rest of the gifts were handed out.

Grinning, Clint opened up a new scope for his bow, squinting as he looked it over. "Hm. Definitely need to try this out- whoa!" he ducked his head as Natasha's gift, a new knife, went flying across the room. "Watch it!" The woman just laughed as she went to retrieve it.

Shaking his head, Bruce was next, opening a box that contained a large shipment of his favorite kind of tea, straight from India. He'd nearly run out of this blend in the tower. Smiling, he glanced to Tony. "Thanks," he murmured, but then his attention was on Thor as he opened his present. "Tony... did you really get Thor a gift card to the all-you-can-eat buffet on Third Street? You..well, how much is it worth anyways?"

"Look, it's enough so the big guy can have quite a few meals there. And hey, do you see him complaining?" He motioned to Thor, who really seemed delighted with his gift. "See? Knew he'd like it." He was then waving his hand at the others, because now it was Steve's turn to open.

Steve just shook his head at that, though he was smiling as he carefully ripped into his present, wondering what on earth Tony could've gotten him. "Really, Tony, you didn't have to," he said, but his husband just nudged his shoulder. Taking a breath, he pulled out the box, blinking as he realized what it was- an array of blue art supplies, ranging from paint to pencils and even a crayon, though he was sure that the crayon was in there mostly for a joke. The color of the supplies, however, was what had Steve smiling, because it was something he was so picky about when coloring in a sketch.

The arc reactor.

He had to get the blue shading just right or else he fussed, and this color that Tony had now shocked him up on, was absolutely perfect. "Thank you," he murmured, turning his head to kiss the brunette. "I love it."

Tony accepted the kiss, smiling slightly against Steve's lips. "Ah, well, you know. Still thoughtful for you even if I don't remember you."

Steve tucked the art supplies to his chest. "Well, it's a good present. And it means a lot, Tone. So thank you. Like I said, I love it."

"And I love you," Tony singsonged, batting his eyelashes and then smirking cheekily at Clint. "Who's up for a round of cards?"

A few hours of "War" and "Go Fish" and Tony was just about done. There were too many people in the room, too crowded, and all he wanted right now was a Steve. He smiled and laughed per usual, snarked, made unnecessary sexual jokes.

He was tired, and he wanted his Steve.

"You guys should get us some...what time of the day is it?" Tony pretended not to know. He's a genius, of course he knows.

"Dinnertime, just about." Bruce reported. "Why?"

"Anthony Edward Stark, are you trying to get rid of us?" Clint mock gasped.

"Yes." Tony put a hand on either side of Steve's cheeks. "Minus one."

"That's rude." Clint waved a finger accusingly.

"C'mon, I just want a half an hour with my husband who hasn't been my husband for weeks." Tony moaned, laying back on his pillows. "And I want food. That's good too."

"No fooling around." Clint said, pointing at Tony. "Because I do not want to walk in on that."

"Oh, come on. Who says we can't?" Tony glanced to Steve with a small smirk. "Because I think-"

"As a doctor, I'm saying you need to relax. Also, I can have it arranged for a nurse to stop in every five minutes," Bruce piped up, laughing at the look Tony gave him. "What? I mean it, you really do need to rest, Tony. It's important."

Steve nodded. "Yes. Important," he looked at Tony sternly.

"All of you hate me!" Tony sighed dramatically, but he still seemed happy enough when the others were filing out of the room to find some food. He smiled, looking at Steve, letting out a small sigh. "Well. Alone at last."

"Don't look at me like that, Tony." Steve said, patting his arm gently. "Not happening."

"I know," Tony harrumphed and then looked at Steve seriously. "Nothing's changed between us, right? I didn't...fuck it all up?"

Steve thought of the first few weeks and how he'd started to believe that he'd never be with Tony again, at least until his plane crash. His husband had been brash, angry, and an asshole, and not in the way they'd come to love. Or rather, it was, but they were getting used to him again. It honestly wouldn't be fair to hold that against Tony.

Something did, however, change between them. Steve had never felt so...separated from Tony like this before. He couldn't exactly get an exact definition what that meant, but it was no question that he and Tony had a lot to talk about either way. "No. No, Tony. I'm not angry, I'm not questioning us. Besides, you fell in love with me twice. That's got to mean something, right?"

Tony stared at him, a small frown decorating his face, but he nodded, his shoulders relaxing. "You'll have to fill me in on everything. Don't spare the lovely details."

Steve squeezed Tony's shoulder. "Okay."

Tony's eyes flickered to Steve's hand on his shoulder and back to Steve. "I pray to whatever god is out there that you won't..." Tony cleared his throat awkwardly, "you know. Leave me."

"Tony, I couldn't. I really couldn't. You were so intent on driving me away while you...weren't yourself and I wouldn't, couldn't leave you. I won't leave you, Tones. Period." Steve promised.

Tony didn't really look too convinced, and Steve sighed softly. "I mean it." He shifted to cup Tony's face between his hands, making the billionaire look at him. "Okay? I'm not going anywhere. I couldn't leave you, so don't you dare think otherwise."

After a moment, Tony nodded, giving Steve a little smile. "Alright," he said, before reaching up to grasp one of Steve's hands tightly. "Thank you."

"Course. I love you," Steve replied before he leaned in to kiss Tony's forehead, relaxing back with him once more.

"Love you, too," he murmured in reply, squeezing Steve's hand tightly with a little smile. "I'm, uh, y'know. Glad to be back." He tapped his temple, relieved that the struggle to regain his memories was finally over, and they could attempt to have some normalcy (well, as much normalcy as a superhero couple could have) in their lives again. He figured it was safe to say that Steve felt the same way, considering he could actually have his husband back, the way things were supposed to be.

Didn't all that pain pay off just for this scene? Hmm?

Phil the Kitten is a special headcanon of mine~ Anyway, await the soon sequel! It's just about done. Like, done. Seriously. I promise.